Selecting a preferred payment instrument

• US 9,092,767 B1
• Filed: 03/04/2013
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Andrews, Mark William, Blandina, Michael, Bedier, Osama
• Primary Examiner(s): Niquette, Robert R
• Application Number:
  US13/784,790
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/227 characterised in that multiple accounts are available, e.g. to the payer
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/2295 Parent-child type, e.g. where parent has control on child rights
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/34 using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes

Abstract

Selecting payment instruments for proxy card transactions comprises associating a plurality of financial accounts with a user proxy account; establishing a model for the user account based on configuration data received from a user, the model comprising identification of a particular financial account to use as a backing instrument for a transaction; receiving data associated with a pending transaction regarding the pending transaction; identifying a financial account to use as a backing instrument for the pending transaction based on a comparison of the model with the pending transaction data; receiving a selection of an alternate financial account to use instead of the identified financial account as the backing instrument; modifying the model account based on the selection of the alternate financial account and the data associated with the pending transaction; and utilizing the modified model in a subsequent selection of a financial account for a subsequent transaction.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method to select payment accounts for proxy card transactions, comprising:

associating, using one or more computing devices, a plurality of financial accounts with a user proxy account, the user proxy account being maintained by the one or more computing devices;

establishing, using the one or more computing devices, a proxy-backing mapping model for the user account based at least in part on configuration data received from a user associated with the user proxy card account, wherein the proxy-backing mapping model comprises information for identifying which particular financial account from among the plurality of financial accounts to use as a backing financial account for a transaction using the user proxy account;

receiving, using the one or more computing devices, data associated with a pending transaction with a first merchant, the first pending transaction being conducted between a first merchant computing device and the user, the data comprising information regarding the first pending transaction and information provided to the merchant computing device to identify the user proxy account;

identifying, using the one or more computing devices, a financial account from among the plurality of financial accounts to use as a backing financial account for the first pending transaction based at least in part on the proxy-backing mapping model and the first pending transaction data;

receiving, using the one or more computing devices, an input of a selection of an alternate financial account to use instead of the identified financial account as the backing financial account for the first pending transaction;

logging, using the one or more computing devices, the data associated with the first pending transaction and the selected, alternate financial account; and

modifying, using the one or more computing devices, the proxy-backing mapping model for the user account based on the selection of the alternate financial account and the data associated with the first pending transaction;

receiving, using the one or more computing devices, data associated with a subsequent pending transaction with a subsequent merchant, the subsequent pending transaction being conducted between a subsequent merchant computing device and the user, the subsequent transaction data comprising information regarding the subsequent pending transaction and information provided to the subsequent merchant computing device to identify the user proxy account;

determining, using the one or more computing devices, that the subsequent pending transaction has similar transaction data as the data associated with the first pending transaction; and

based on a determination that the subsequent pending transaction has similar transaction data as the data associated with the first pending transaction, executing, using the one or more computing devices, the updated proxy-backing mapping model to identify the alternate financial account to use as the backing financial account for the subsequent pending transaction instead of the first financial account.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first pending transaction data and the subsequent pending transaction data comprises one or more of location data identifying a location of a user computing device, an identity of the first merchant or the subsequent merchant, a category of the first merchant or the subsequent merchant, a time of day for the first pending transaction and the subsequent pending transaction, a day of week for the first pending transaction and the subsequent pending transaction, and a season of year.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the proxy-backing mapping model is further established based on rules received from the user, the rules comprising instructions for selecting the financial account as the backing instrument.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

presenting, using the one or more computing devices, a first financial account selected from among the plurality of financial accounts to use as the backing instrument for the first pending transaction based at least in part on the rules received from the user;

determining, using the one or more computing devices, that a second financial account from among the plurality of financial accounts to use as the backing instrument for the pending transaction is identified based at least in part on of the proxy-backing mapping model and the pending transaction data, the second financial account being different than the first financial account; and

presenting, using the one or more computing devices, the first and second financial accounts to the user and an option to select the preferred financial account to use in the pending transaction.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining, using the one or more computing devices, from the situation of the user that the model for the user should be suspended; and

presenting, using the one or more computing devices, an option to the user to suspend the model and an option to select a financial account for a predetermined period of time, the financial account being selected for use in all transactions until the predetermined period of time elapses or a request to reinstate the model is received.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining, using the one or more computing devices, from the situation of the user that the model for the user should be suspended; and

presenting, using the one or more computing devices, an option to the user to suspend the model and an option to employ a second model, the second model being established based on a second set of rules received from the user, the rules comprising instructions for selecting the financial account as the backing instrument.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the information to identify the user proxy account is provided to the first merchant computing device by a user computing device associated with the user proxy account.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the information to identify the user proxy account is provided to the first merchant computing device by a magnetic stripe card.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first merchant and the subsequent merchant are the same merchant.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein determining that the subsequent pending transaction has similar transaction data as the data associated with the first pending transaction comprises determining one or more of the following:

the first merchant and the subsequent merchant are the same, a category of the first merchant and the subsequent merchant are the same;

a product being purchased in the first pending transaction and the subsequent pending transaction are substantially the same, and the location of the first pending transaction and the subsequent pending transaction are substantially the same.

11. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable storage device having computer-executable program instructions embodied thereon that when executed by a computer cause the computer to select payment instruments for proxy card transactions, the computer-executable program instructions comprising;

computer-executable program instructions to associate a plurality of financial accounts with a user proxy account, the user proxy account being maintained by the one or more computing devices;

computer-executable program instructions to establish a proxy-backing mapping model for the user account based on configuration data received from a user associated with the user proxy card account, wherein the proxy-backing mapping model comprises information for identifying which particular financial account from among the plurality of financial accounts to use as a backing instrument for a transaction using the user proxy account;

computer-executable program instructions to receive data associated with a first pending transaction with a first merchant, the first pending transaction being conducted between a first merchant computing device and the user, the data comprising information regarding the first pending transaction and information provided to the merchant computing device to identify the user proxy account;

computer-executable program instructions to identify a financial account from among the plurality of financial accounts to use as a backing instrument for the first pending transaction based at least in part on the proxy-backing mapping model and the first pending transaction data;

computer-executable program instructions to receive an input of a selection of an alternate financial account to use instead of the identified financial account as the backing instrument for the first pending transaction;

computer-executable program instructions to log the data associated with the first pending transaction and the selected, alternate financial account;

computer-executable program instructions to modify the proxy-backing mapping model for the user account based on the selection of the alternate financial account and the data associated with the first pending transaction;

computer-executable program instructions to data associated with a subsequent pending transaction with a subsequent merchant, the subsequent pending transaction being conducted between a subsequent merchant computing device and the user, the subsequent transaction data comprising information regarding the subsequent pending transaction and information provided to the subsequent merchant computing device to identify the user proxy account;

computer-executable program instructions to determine that the subsequent pending transaction has similar transaction data as the data associated with the first pending transaction; and

computer-executable program instructions to execute, based on a determination that the subsequent pending transaction has similar transaction data as the data associated with the first pending transaction, the updated proxy-backing mapping model to identify the alternate financial account to use as the backing financial account for the subsequent pending transaction instead of the first financial account.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the transaction data comprises one or more of location data identifying a location of a user computing device, an identity of the first merchant, a category of the first merchant, a time of day for the first pending transaction, a day of week for the first pending transaction, and a season of year.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the proxy-backing mapping model is further established based on rules received from the user, the rules comprising instructions for selecting the financial account as the backing instrument.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising:

computer-executable program instructions to present a first financial account selected from among the plurality of financial accounts to use as the backing instrument for the pending transaction based at least in part on the rules received from the user

computer-executable program instructions to determine that a second financial account from among the plurality of financial accounts to use as the backing instrument for the pending transaction is identified based at least in part on the proxy-backing mapping model and the pending transaction data, the second financial account being different than the first financial account; and

computer-executable program instructions to present the first and second financial accounts to the user and an option to select the preferred financial account to use in the pending transaction.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising:

computer-executable program instructions to determine from the situation of the user that the model for the user should be suspended; and

computer-executable program instructions to present an option to the user to suspend the proxy-backing mapping model and an option to select a second financial account for a predetermined period of time, the financial account being selected for use in all transactions until the predetermined period of time elapses or a request to reinstate the model is received.

16. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the information to identify the user proxy account is provided to the merchant computing device by a user computing device associated with the user proxy account.

17. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the information to identify the user proxy account is provided to the first merchant computing device by a magnetic stripe card.

18. A system to select payment instruments for proxy card transactions, the system comprising:

a storage resource; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the storage resource, wherein the processor executes application code instructions that are stored in the storage resource and that cause the system to;

associate a plurality of financial accounts with a user proxy account, the user proxy account being maintained by the one or more computing devices;

establish a proxy-backing mapping model for the user account based on configuration data received from a user associated with the user proxy card account, wherein the proxy-backing mapping model comprises information for identifying which particular financial account from among the plurality of financial accounts to use as a backing instrument for a transaction using the user proxy account;

receive data associated with a first pending transaction with a first merchant, the first pending transaction being conducted between a first merchant computing device and the user, the data comprising information regarding the first pending transaction and information provided to the merchant computing device to identify the user proxy account;

identify a financial account from among the plurality of financial accounts to use as a backing instrument for the first pending transaction based at least in part on the proxy-backing mapping model and the first pending transaction data;

receive an input of a selection of an alternate financial account to use instead of the identified financial account as the backing instrument for the first pending transaction;

log the data associated with the first pending transaction and the selected, alternate financial account;

modify the proxy-backing mapping model for the user account based on the selection of the alternate financial account and the data associated with the pending transaction;

receive data associated with a subsequent pending transaction with a subsequent merchant, the subsequent pending transaction being conducted between a subsequent merchant computing device and the user, the subsequent transaction data comprising information regarding the subsequent pending transaction and information provided to the subsequent merchant computing device to identify the user proxy account;

determine that the subsequent pending transaction has similar transaction data as the data associated with the first pending transaction; and

based on a determination that the subsequent pending transaction has similar transaction data as the data associated with the first pending transaction, execute the updated proxy-backing mapping model to identify the alternate financial account to use as the backing financial account for the subsequent pending transaction instead of the first financial account.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the transaction data comprises one or more of location data identifying a location of the user computing device, an identity of the first merchant, a category of the first merchant, a time of day for the pending transaction, a day of week for the pending transaction, and a season of year.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the proxy-backing mapping model is further established based on rules received from the user, the rules comprising instructions for selecting the financial account as a backing instrument.

21. The system of claim 20, the processor executing further application code instructions that are stored in the storage device and that cause the system to:

present a first financial account selected from among the plurality of financial accounts to use as the backing instrument for the pending transaction based at least in part on the rules received from the user;

determine that a second financial account from among the plurality of financial accounts to use as the backing instrument for the pending transaction is identified based at least in part on the proxy-backing mapping model and the pending transaction data, the second financial account being different than the first financial account; and

present the first and second financial accounts to the user and an option to select the preferred financial account to use in the pending transaction.